I don't have kids. Anyway, while it's true that every generation criticizes the one before it - that doesn't mean that the criticisms aren't true. Maybe every generation is justified in criticizing the one before it. I think the 'softness' of modern kids is not so much a 'modern' phenomena - I believe it has much more to do with social/economic classes than any sort of change over time. Middle and upper class kids are always far more coddled and protected than their lower class counterparts.
The kids today who are good athletes are doing crazier things than kids in my day (running faster/dunking earlier/ triple kickflips/ etc.), but overall kids today are too restricted with all the extra safety etc. I'm not sure anyone can seriously argue that kids today in general aren't a bit chubbier than they were 20-30 years ago. That's not old guys reliving the glory days -- that's fast food on every corner for the current generation.
It's all about the cpu and computer games. And it's only going to get worse (or better?). We are creating virtual reality nurseries and playrooms. We might not even have a need for our little happy suburban oasis in the near future. Ray Bradbury anyone?
I'd be curious to know how many of you actually have kids. Not that I do not agree with some of the sentiments expressed here (to a degree) but once you become a parent, your "gung-ho-feed-the-kid-gun-powder-and-pass-the-ammunition" attitiude will most likely moderate. Either way, good luck with that and keep your young sociopath-in-waiting away from my kid.
I agree with the sentiment of the thread. I don't have kids. But when I do, I have no doubt that I won't let them be "soft"..to a degree. For example, I will definitely let my kid eat some dirt and whatever. I mean some discretion is necessary, but I'm a big proponent of building immunity to things, especially in this day and age when anti-bacterial soap is everywhere and causing bigger and badder bacteria to come up. But I'll have to find a safe neighborhood somewhere, cause damned if I'm gonna let my kid go play outside in a very unsafe place by him/herself. Completely agree w/RR on the physical pain working later as strength to stand on in mental situations. Though he said it better than I did. But falls, bumps, bruises, tackles...need to happen while the bones are still flexible and even if broken, won't be bad to fix. Kids need to grow up and not be afraid of a *little* pain--mental or physical. That's how you build a 3rd baseman who will get his body in front of the ball ("C'mon Dorn, don't gimme that o-LE bulls***")
The funny thing is that 50 years from now the talk will be about how tough kids were that grew up around the turn of the century. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Is it just me, or do kids not play outside like they use to. when i grew up it seemed like there were always kids outside all over everyday.......Playing basketball, hide and go seek, etc. Is this the case or am i just out of the 'kid loop' these days.
Can you believe that the daycare my wife where used to work removed the swings (therefore removing the chance of the kids learning the 15' jump you mention) because, according to the director, it didn't induce the kids to "learn anything" or "involve them in anything". What a crock. No te creo, Master. Espero que no sigas trabajando en Pappasito's. Pero, estoy de acuerdo, necesitamos más "PE" y menos mariconeadas. I agree with El Muchacho Gallina. Your posts on this thread alone are full of truth, Rocket River. I am off to feed my two girls the rust off the hose. BRB I couldn't read any of your otherwise sense-making post (now I will never know) after I read this bull you compared. Oh, I am sorry, man. Where else can I post from if not a computer? Please point it out to me. Don't worry, I know what you mean. Being behind a computer does not make me soft or my kids soft. It gives me the chance to speak out on things like this that Rocket River brings out. I have plenty of input because I was brought up during HARD TIMES in MEXICO and I have made it further than most. While not a bully and "maybe" soft as some may say, I disagree with all this PADDING, OUTLAWING DODGEBALL, giving BAND-AIDs for every nick and cut. It's pathetic, man. As soon as my girls hear me say something like: "Hey! Let's go outside and...[play baseball | ride bikes | toss the ball | kick the soccer ball | play tag ] !!", they're off and running. I am so effin' proud of that sh*t.
(Nods) If kids today are soft, then doesn't that mean that parents today are soft too. So all those "tough kids" from way back when grew up to be coddling softies of today.
What's funny about all this "back in my day" reminiscing is that the big, tough, brawny, lumberjack kids of yesteryear are the ones raising the kids of today... so what does that tell you about the upbriniging of the parents of today who were the kids of yesterday? They're raising the wusses of today... so blame yourselves! *EDIT* : sunuvabiskit, m_cable beat me to it... grrr...
You guys sound like a bunch of grandpas screaming, "Damn kids! Get outta my yard!" This is the third time I've posted this in a month: you guys can b**** about ANYTHING.
Back in my day, Swoly, all we had was a broken pinata (sorry this computer doesnt have the tilde) to play around with. There was no string to tie it to the tree. It just sat there on the ground, and we took turns hitting it with a stick.
Sorry . . . . . I need to post ANOTHER WHAT IS IN YOUR CD PLAYER Threat What is the Hangout but a place to drop random thoughts on the state of the world . . .and see what others think on it BTW Kids wouldn't be in the yard . . . they would be in someone's den . . . unless of the course . . . . it was a SIMS yard Rocket River
Not Necessarily Dr Spock and various CPS actions/Laws have made the social ramifications of 'harder love' . . well harder I mean . .your kid comes in with 'too many' bruises and CPS is in your life. .. and they hard to get out In fact . . . Kids have more rights and say than you They say you did it. . . .you did it .. until you prove otherwise Honestly. . . we are a throw the baby out with the bath water society a Kid bruised on the knee . .. we remove the whole park a kid has an ******* as a parent. . .. then we make every parent pay for it The government tells you how to raise you kid then wants to hold you responsible for the results how generous of them there is a bunch of laws, ordinances, etc that contribute to the delinquency/softness of the minors Rocket River
You're talking about a small extreme part of the spectrum. I mean, kids having bruises and such, and then having to face CPS action. Is that really such a common place situation. It's something that might get a lot of attention if hidden video hits the local/national news but does it happen that frequently. I'm sure the number of kids that are really abused, far, far outnumbers the number of kids that get taken away from their parents unfairly. And even if it is a case of Dr. Spock and CPS and the government being in charge of the downfall of the "tough kid", aren't they parents as well. Aren't those officials and authority figures, in the same generation as today's parents. As your generation. If you encompass the kids of today as an entire entity then you need to recognize that all of their parents and all the other adult figures that are shaping their lives are the exact "back in the day" kids that you are so lamentful at having gone away. And regarding childhood obesity. Last I checked, 2/3 of all American ADULTS are overweight, and 1/3 of American ADULTS are obese. Aren't those the exact "tough kids" that used to play outdoors and were active and all that jazz. So is childhood obesity really the result of video games, or is it because their parents are also fat?
No doubt However it has caused a atmosphere of Fear among adults Look at the lady with her kid at the grocery store a year or so back That turned into a National man hunt the concensus was there was NOTHING that child could have done to warrent what happened. . it was not even a question asked Growing up . . you f*cked around in the store ya parent spanked you . . and it was done such action would put CPS in your life now not to mention being a social Pariah We also live in a society that convinced us that we all f*cked up in some type of way. that is every commercial etc Remember the 80s when everyone's problems was because dad didn't hug them enough etc I am not letting these parents off the hook in fact that is who this is about . . . the parents They are the ones Coddling them they are the ones ALLOWING this to happen there are various reason from societal changes in parenting attitudes to Laws and law enforcement and cps to folx being so into themselves they forget their kids It is not so much about Obesity even though that IMO a side effect of it Kids not playing outside Kids not allowed to play 'rough games' This is in schools mainly . .. . [when I sid Outlaws i was exaggerating] Kids simply have become more sedentary indoor types Rocket River
